FDA Warns Pet Owners About Jerky Treats That Have Killed 600 Pets

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned pet owners not to feed their animals jerky treats manufactured in China. According to the FDA, jerky treats have sickened 3,600 dogs and 10 cats since 2007. The FDA said in a release that more than 580 of those pets have died. The release says its Center for Veterinary Medicine has run more than 1,200 tests and visited pet treat manufacturing plants in China. The agency hasn’t determined the cause of the illness, and has not recalled any specific products.

The release says the majority of complaints involve chicken jerky (treats, tenders, and strips), but others treats reported to have caused illness include duck, sweet potato and treats where chicken or duck jerky is wrapped around dried fruits, sweet potatoes, or yams. The FDA says pets can suffer from a decreased appetite, decreased activity, vomiting and diarrhea among other symptoms.